Floribunda rose plant named ‘Meiplumty’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant is provided that commonly commences blooming medium in the season and forms abundantly and nearly continuously in mass attractive single light pink blossoms. The growth habit is low, compact, and bushy. Strong vegetation is formed. The vegetation is dense and bears a glossy aspect on the upper surface. Good tolerance to disease has been observed particularly with respect to black spot and mildew. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meiplumty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the‘Noacas’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent(i.e., the pollen parent) was an unnamed and unreleased seedling(non-patented in the United States).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘Noacas’×‘Unnamed Seedling’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Floribunda rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) displays a low and compact bushy growth habit with strong        vegetation,    -   (b) forms in mass on a nearly continuous basis attractive single        light pink blossoms,    -   (c) exhibits dense dark green foliage with a glossy aspect on        the upper surface,    -   (d) exhibits good tolerance to disease particularly with respect        to black spot and mildew, and    -   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in        parks and gardens.

The blooming tends to commence medium in the season during observationsto date.

During observations to date, the plant has been found to be cold hardyin U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 5.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in parks and gardens where ornamentation is tobe provided.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, the ‘Noacas’ parental variety forms dissimilar orange toorange-red blossoms. The new variety can be distinguished from otherknown cultivars, as well. For example, the flowers of the new cultivarhave fewer petals than the ‘Korgazell’ and ‘Korstarnow’ cultivars(non-patented in the U.S.), which exhibit approximately 9-16 petals perflower. Further, the flowers of the new cultivar have fewer petals thanthe ‘Meibarum’ cultivar (non-patented in the U.S.), which exhibitapproximately 17-25 petals per flower.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France, has shown that the characteristics ofthe new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by suchasexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the newvariety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meiplumty’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately one year of age and were observedduring July while growing on their own roots outdoors at Le Cannet desMaures, Var, France. Comparative standard color information is providedat the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud wherein the sepals aremore fully open;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the initial opening ofthe petals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 11—illustrates a cluster of unopened floral buds;

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface; and

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—planview—upper surface.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 1995 Edition). Thedescription is based on the observation of one-year-old plants duringMay while growing outdoors on their own roots at Le Cannet des Maures,Var, France.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Bushy.        -   Height.—Approximately 50 cm on average.        -   Spread.—Approximately 70 cm on average.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 146D. Adult            wood: near Yellow-Green Group 146C.        -   Prickles.—Small prickles commonly are absent on young and            adult stems.        -   Thorns.—Configuration: slightly curved downwards on the            upper surface, slightly concave on the under surface, and            with an oval base. Quantity: approximately 9 on average on a            stem length of 10 cm. Length: approximately 1 cm on average.            Color: near Yellow-Green Group 153C amply suffused with near            Greyed-Purple Group 179B. On adult stems: Quantity:            approximately 3 on average on a stem length of 10 cm.            Length: approximately 1.1 cm on average. Color: near            Greyed-Purple Group 177B.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, rather broad, approximately 1.5            cm in length on average, approximately 8 mm in width on            average, near Yellow-Green Group 146B and 146C on the upper            surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the under            surface.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146B in            coloration. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C in            coloration. Texture: non-glandular on the upper surface, and            with a few small prickles on the under surface. Length:            approximately 5.5-6.5 cm on average.        -   Rachis.—Upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146D in            coloration. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146B in            coloration. General appearance: dense. Length: approximately            5.5-6.5 cm on average.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 and 7 (most often). Shape: generally            elliptical with a pointed tip and an obtuse base. Size: the            terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 3.6 cm in            length on average, and approximately 2.4 cm in width on            average. Serration: slightly denticulate, small and single            (as illustrated). Texture: physically firm and leathery with            a glossy upper surface. Color (young foliage): Upper            surface: near Green Group 137B. Under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 146B. Color (adult foliage): Upper            surface: near Green Group 137B. Under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 146C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 5 to 10 blossoms            per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Glandular, approximately 2 to 3 cm in length on            average, approximately 2 mm in diameter on average, and near            Green Group 138B in coloration.        -   Pedicel.—Approximately 2 to 3 cm in length on average,            approximately 2 mm in diameter on average, and near Green            Group 138B in coloration.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: tomentose and near Green Group 138C            in coloration. Under surface: smooth and near Green Group            138B in coloration. Shape: longish and narrow, and somewhat            upright at the base. Size: approximately 2 cm in length on            average, and approximately 4 mm in width at the widest point            on average. Sepal extension: weak sepal extension            approximately 0-2 cm in length on average.        -   Buds.—Shape: substantially conical. Size: small. Length:            approximately 1.4 cm on average. Width: approximately 1 cm            at the widest point on average. Color as calyx breaks: Upper            surface: near White Group 155A amply suffused with near Red            Group 49D at the base. Under surface: near White Group 155A            with a spot of near Yellow Group 2D at the base.        -   Flower.—Shape: flattened cup-shaped. Diameter: approximately            6 cm on average. Color (in the course of opening): Upper            surface: near White Group 155A amply suffused with near Red            Group 49D, with a spot of near Yellow Group 2D at the base.            Under surface: near White Group 155A with a spot of near            Yellow Group 2D at the base. Color (open flower): Upper            side: near White Group 155A with a spot of near Yellow Group            2D at the base. Under side: near White Group 155A with a            spot of Yellow Group 2D at the base. Fragrance: none            detected. Petal number: approximately 5 on average under            normal growing conditions. Petal shape: with a substantially            rounded tip and an obtuse base. Petal margin: non-serrated            with a weak undulation. Petal texture: leathery and somewhat            firm. Petal length: approximately 2.3 cm on average. Petal            width: approximately 2 cm on average. Petal arrangement:            imbricated, and without petaloids. Petal drop: good with the            petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying. Stamen            number: approximately 48 on average. Anthers: regularly            arranged around the styles, approximately 1 mm in size on            average, and near Orange Group 24B in coloration. Filaments:            approximately 2 mm in length on average, and near Yellow            Group 13D in coloration. Pistils: approximately 12 on            average. Stigmas: approximately 1 mm in size on average, and            near Yellow Group 11C in coloration. Styles: approximately 3            mm in length on average, and near Yellow-Green Group 145D in            coloration. Receptacle: smooth, pitcher-shaped in            longitudinal section, approximately 4 mm in length on            average, approximately 3 mm in width on average at the            widest point, and near Green Group 138B in coloration.        -   Hip.—Pitcher shaped, approximately 1 cm in length on            average, approximately 8 mm in diameter on average, smooth            in texture, and near Yellow Green 144A in coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.        -   Blooming.—Medium season, very abundant and nearly            continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—Good, with no particular            susceptibility to black spot and mildew.            The new ‘Meiplumty’ variety has not been observed under all            possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it            is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat            with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural            practices, and other environmental conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant characterized bythe following characteristics: (a) displays a low and compact bushygrowth habit with strong vegetation, (b) forms in mass on a nearlycontinuous basis attractive single light pink blossoms, (c) exhibitsdense dark green foliage with a glossy aspect on the upper surface, (d)exhibits good tolerance to disease particularly with respect to blackspot and mildew, and (e) is well suited for providing attractiveornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially as shown anddescribed.